Door and supporting structure therefor



p 1958 .c. B. NELSON 2,831,219

DOOR AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE! 'IIHEREFOR Filed April 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CORLESS B. NELSON ATTORNEY p l 22, 1953 c. B. NELSON 2,831,219

DOOR AND SUPPORTING sTRucTuRE THEREFOR Filed April 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J, /0 #7 g fi f 1'1 T m 2 H I 22 o W I 1|. 0 O

\ Z5 M 2/ 1 2% 1| E INVENTOI? CORLESS B. NELSON A T TORNE Y April 1958 c. B. NELSON 2,831,219

DOOR AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE THEREFOR CORLESS B. NELSON BY fmaww iatgg nt 5..

Patented Apr. 22, 1958 DOOR AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Corless B. Nelson, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 502,010

6 Claims. (Cl. -16) This invention relates to an improved door construction andthe supporting structure for the door, and more particularly to an improved .construction for single panel doors of the overhead type which are movable vertically and suitable for use on garages and other enclosures.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved door construction which is strong and lightweight, and which, by proper placement of the center of gravity of the door with reference to the operating parts and the forces developed therein, utilizes the force of a variably stressed resilient element and to some extent, an effective balance of gravitational forces to achieve ease .of handling and convenience in opening and closing the door.

The door structure herein disclosed has within its purview the provision of a door supporting mechanism, the main operating parts of which can be assembled and adjusted at the factory and readily installed by the user.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide a door and supporting structure in which desirable gravitational balance characteristics are complemented by a graduated force applied to the door through its supporting members for effecting ease of opening and closing the door and for holding the door in its open and closed positions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a door construction in which structural elements utilized in effecting improved operating characteristics substantially increase the rigidity and structural strength of the door panel, thereby achieving a light and inexpensive door without sacrifice of its strength and rigidity.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a door and operating mechanism which have simplicity of design and structure which results in a trim and functional appearance, and which have the advantage of requiring a minimum of overhead clearance space.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a door operating structure which may be locked in position at any stage of its movement during the opening and closing operation, thereby making available various desired conditions of light, ventilation, access, and the like.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a door operating mechanism utilizing a novel and effective frictional means for controlling the rate of travel of the door between its open and closed positions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a door and operating mechanism in which the operating characteristics of the door may be quickly and conveniently adjusted during and after its installation to achieve optimum results with respect to the ease of door operation, and which structure, for the time of installation has its springs protected so as to eliminate hazards to the user either at the time of installation or in use.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved construction which is applicable to vertically movingdoorsor panels of the so-called overhead type which range from relatively small doors such as cabinet doors to relatively large doors such as aircraft hangar doors and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent in thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference ,indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the three sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a door and operating mechanism which embody my invention and in which my door construction is utilized, the view also indicating by the dotted lines various positions of the door during its opening and closing movements;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, in the direction indicated by the arrows, and illustrates a detail of the structure and arrangement of a friction control means utilized in my improved door construction;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of ,Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrows, the view showing details of the pivotal securement of elements of my door operating mechanism to the doorsupporting structure;

Fig. 4 is an interior sectional view taken substantially ona line 4-4- ,of Fig. l, in the direction of thearrows,,and shows the interior surface of my door and further illustrates the positioning and securement of various members of the operating mechanism relative to the door and door-supporting structure;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substan tially on line 55 of Fig. 4, in the direction of the arrows, and shows spring means utilizedfor complementing the effect of gravitational force in my improved d.oor construction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in section and taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, in the direction of the arrows to show pivotal securement of a supporting arm to structural elements associated with the door panel;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 77 of Fig. 4, in the direction of the arrows and illustrates a locking device used in combination with my door and its operating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. ,7, in the direction of the arrows and showing in detail the shape and arrangement of elements of the locking device employed in my door operating mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a modified form of my .door construction as utilized with door supporting structures, such as kitchen cabinets and the like;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, front elevational view similar to that of Fig. 9' and indicating the open position of a cabinet door employing my .door operating mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 11-11 of 9, in the direction of the arrows and shows in detail the arrangement of elements .of my door, its operating mechanism and the application thereof to a cabinet door; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 12-'12of Fig. '10, in the direction of the arrows, and is similar to that of Fig. 11, but depicts the open position of a cabinet door embodying my invention.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein exemplary embodiments of my invention aredisclosed for illustrative purposes, it may be observed that a door 10 is provided which is readily adapted to use with a door-supporting structure 111, such as that of garages and the like. Such a door-supporting structure 11 includes vertical portions '12 which, in the present instance, are parts of the garage sidewalls extending upwardly fromafloor 13 and supporting a horizontal structure '14 that comprises elements of the ceiling construction. Such structure also includes ,a cornice 16 which encloses-the front edge'ofthe garage ceiling 14 andprojects downwardly below the plane of the ceiling. Extending under and across the ceiling 14 perpendicular to the cornice 16 are spaced beams 15 (Fig. 4) which serve as guide rails. Door jambs 19 extend downwardly from cornice 16 along the vertical side walls 12. For this type of door-supporting structure, as with some other types of door structures, the floor 13 is provided with an offset 17 which extends across the floor at the door opening and under the cornice 16 to provide a stop for limiting inward movement of the bottom of the door.

In considering construction of the door in the disclosed structure, it constitutes reinforced panel 18 which, in its closed position, extends vertically between the cornice 16 and the abutment 17, and horizontally between the door jambs 19 of the door-supporting structure.

a The reinforced panel 18 is of sufficient structural rigidity and strength to provide a suitable closure for the garage opening. In view of the reinforcing characteristics of various elements employed in my door operating mechanism, as will be more fully described hereinafter, the

panel 18 may be fabricated of a lighter and more conveniently handled material than would otherwise be practical. On the lower part of the mid-portion of the door panel 18 and between its sides are one or more door pulls 21 affixed to the door panel. On either side of the upper edge of the door panel and positioned directly below spaced beams are rollers to facilitate the movements of the door panel along the spaced beams as the door is opened or closed.

Extending across the mid-portion of the interior surface of the door panel 18 is a hollow pivot bar 22 rotatably secured to the door panel by spaced brackets 23 which are alfixed to the door panel as by screws 24. The pivot bar is preferably of strong tubular construction having a center opening 25 extending lengthwise thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. Projecting perpendicularly from the end portions of the pivot bar 22 are supporting arms 26, rigidly secured to the pivot bar by weld joints 27, as shown in Fig. 5. The supporting arm 26 is of sufficient rigidity and strength to support and control the door panel 18 in its open and closed positions and at points intermediate thereof. The supporting arm, in the present instance, is reinforced by a solid ring element 28 at its juncture with the pivot bar 22.

Through each of the supporting arms 26 at the ends thereof which are secured to the pivot bar are transverse openings 29 (Fig. 5) which, in effect, are continuations of the center opening 25 of the pivot bar. Positioned within each opening 29 is a metal bearing sleeve 31 protruding from the side of the opening opposite the pivot bar and terminating in a radial flange 32, and the external surface of which provides a bearing for rotational movements of the arm 26 and pivot bar relative to the lever 34. Secured to the flange by bolts 33 is a lever 34 which projects perpendicularly from the sleeve. The lever, in each instance, is spaced from the supporting arm 26 by a spacing washer 36.

during the operation of the door and as opposed to the force resulting from the normally stressed state of the torsion rod 37.

The supporting arms extend from the pivot bar along side walls 12 of the door-supporting structure and are supported for swinging movements relative to such side walls, as shown at 44 in Fig. 1. This securement enables the supporting arm to swing in a vertical plane, thereby causing the pivot bar and the door panel likewise to be moved upwardly in an arcuate path around the pivot axis 44, the door panel being turned on the pivot bar 22 during the course of such movement. Such arcuate path is limited at its upper and lower ends by the doors open and closed positions, respectively. Levers 34 may be utilized at each end of the pivot bar, depending upon the weight of the door and the forces developed by the stressing of the torsion rod or rods. In either instance a lever 34 projects outwardly from each torsion rod to a hinge connection 46 movably connecting it to a connecting link 47. Each connecting link, in turn, extends alongside of the side walls 12 of the door-supporting structure and is pivotally connected thereto at 48, at a position spaced from the pivot axis 44. The link 47 preferably includes a turnbuckle 49 for altering its length and thereby modifying the stressing and action of the torsion rod. The lever 34 and connecting link 47 which are pivotally connected at 46 constitute a flexible control mechanism which functions to supplement and vary the efifect of gravity upon the movements of the door as the door is being raised or lowered.

As shown in detail in Fig. 3, the supporting arm 26 and the connecting link 47 are secured at spaced pivotal points 44 and 48 to a backing plate 51 afiixed to the door- Contained within the center opening 25 of the pivot bar 22 is a torsion rod 37 which, in the disclosed structure, is rectangular in section to facilitate the anchoring of its ends, and is supported for free rotational movement within the bar 22. At its inner end and well within the pivot bar 22, the torsion rod 37 is anchored in a block 38 which is secured in position internally of the pivot bar 22 by fastening means such as a set screw 39. The outer end of the rod, opposite to that secured in the block 38, is positioned within and non-rotatably secured to the sleeve 31 and thus to the lever 34. In its normal position of use, the torsion rod 37 is torsionally stressed between its ends to serve as a torsion spring. With this arrangement, the door panel may be pivoted on pivot bar 22, the pivot bar being held against rotation by the supporting arms 26. The lever 34, however, is

non-rotatably secured to the torsion rod 37 and determines the position of the outer end of that torsion rod supporting structure as by screws 52. The connecting link 47 is connected to the backing plate by a cap screw 53, and supporting arm 26 is similarly connected thereto by a cap screw 54, the cap screws extending through suitable openings in the backing plate provided for that purpose. The supporting arm, however, is spaced from the backing plate by spacer collar 56 to afford correct alignment of the arm and the link. The pivot points 44 and 48 are preferably covered by a cap plate 57 held in place by the cap screws 53 and 54, which cap plate reinforces the pivot structure and relieves the stress on the cap screws 53 and 54. Reinforcement of the supporting arm 26 at the point of pivot i also afforded by the use ofva collar 58.

The movements of the door panel 18 along its arcuate path are, in the disclosed structure, controlled by a friction control device 59, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Such friction control devices each include an arc-like friction surface 61 extending radially around pivot axis 44 intermediate the ends of supporting arms 26. The friction surfaces in the present instance, are provided by suitably shaped metal straps secured to side walls 12 of the door-- supporting structure as by screws 62. The friction surfaces include end flanges 63 adapted to limit the travel of the supporting arms along those surfaces. Arrestment of the supporting arm by the end flanges is cushioned by resilient bumper pads 64 of rubber or the like.

Secured to each supporting arm as by welds 66 (Fig. 2) is a tubular housing 67 having a threaded collar 68 affixed to its outer end as by welds 69. Contained within the housing and protruding from its inner end is a block of friction material 71 forced against the friction surface by a compression spring 72. The force of the spring is controlled by keeper 73 and an adjusting screw 74. The pressure of the friction material against the friction surface may be easily adjusted, thereby controlling the movement of the supporting arm and of the door panel around pivot point 44. Adjustment of the screw 74 so as to vary the retarding effect of the friction device upon the rate of travel of the door as it is raised or lowered is made with consideration to factors such as the weight of the.

the center of gravity of the door panel, the strength of the torsion rod 37, and the like.

For securement of the door panel 18 in its closed position or at various desired points along its arcuate path of movement, a locking device 76 is provided in the door panel immediately under the pivot bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The locking device includes a threaded rod 77 extending horizontally through, and supported for rotation in the door panel, and having aflixed to its ends suitable handles 78 to facilitate manual actuation. The threaded rod is supported in an exterior plate 79 and an interior bracket 81, the interior bracket having a keeper flange 82 projecting below the threaded rod. That portion of the threaded rod on the inside of the door panel and above the keeper flange constitutes an interior screw portion 83 which is immediately below the pivot bar. In threaded engagement with the interior screw portion is a latch element 84 and a spacer nut 86 which may be moved along the screw portion as rod 77 is rotated. Above the screw portion and projecting downwardly from the pivot bar is a lug 87 having alatching surface 88, the lug being rigidly secured to the pivot bar.

The latch element 84, as shown in Fig. 8, has oppositely positioned and projecting stop portions 89 which are engageable with the flange 82 to limit the rotary movement of the latch element to an arc of less than 180 degrees. Thus, when the threaded rod 77 is rotated, the latch element is turned by its frictional engagement with the screw portion 83 until one of its stop portions 89 contacts the keeper flange, thus preventing further turning of the latch element. Continued rotation of the threaded rod forces the latch element to move along the screw portion either toward or away from the door panel depending upon the direction of rotation of the rod 77. On the latch element 84 is a catch portion 91 projecting outwardly from the threaded rod a sufiicient distance to engage latching surface 88 of the lug 87.

In utilizing the locking device 76 to secure the door in its closed position, the threaded rod '77 is turned in a clockwise direction to turn latch element 84 and bring the stop portion 89 into contact with flange 82. Rotation of the rod 77 is continued in a clockwise direction thereby causing the latch element to move along the screw portion toward the door panel until catch portion 91 comes into contact with latch-receiving surface 88 of the lug. When this occurs, the door panel 18 has been secured in its closed position. To secure the door in positions intermediate of its open and closed positions, as shown at 92 in Fig. 1, the latch element is moved along the screw portion away from the door to compensate for the greater distance between the door and the latchreceiving surface 88 resulting from the door being moved around the pivot bar. After the latch portion has been removed a suflicient distance, the direction of rotation of the rod 77 is reversed so as to move the latch element up snugly against the lug 87.

In the general operation of the disclosed door, one of the handles 78 of the locking device is turned to disengage catch portion 91 of the latch element from the lug 87. The lower portion of door panel 18 is pulled outwardly by force applied to one of the door pulls 21 so that the door panel is swung around pivot bar 22. As this occurs, the upper edge of the door panel moves on rollers 20 along the spaced beams 15. Contact of the upper edge of the door panel against the spaced beams is maintained by the upward thrust of the door panel occurring simultaneously with movement of the upper edge of the door inwardly. As the door is moved in either direction, such movement is held in an arcuate path by supporting arms 26 swinging around the axis 44. Levers 34 are positioned by connecting links 47 and swing toward and away from the supporting arm 26, depending upon the direction of movement of the door, this action being aided during upward movements of the door and resisted during downward movements of the door by the force of the torsion rod .51 which increasingly urges the 'lever toward an unstressed position. Thus, the force created by the torsion rod'acts against gravitational forces on the door to aid in raising the door and to limit or ease thev downward rate of movement. In this connection, it may be understood that the location of the pivot bar above the vertical center of the'door, therefore, above the center of gravity, tends to hold the rollers '20 against the beams 15. Control of the rate of travel of the door along its arcuate path around pivot axis 44 is maintained by the friction control means 59.

As the door panel reaches its open position, it is substantially flat against the spaced beams 15 of the doorsupporting structure as shown at 96 in Fig. 1. The door is returned to its closed position by pulling downwardly on. door pull 21, thereby moving the supporting arms downwardly along their arcuate paths. As the door closes, it turns on the pivot bar until reaching its vertical closed position, the rollers 20 on the upper edge of the door tending to remain in contact with and moving along spaced beams 15, because of'the location-of the pivot bar above the center of gravity of the door.

In a modified form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 9 through 12, my improved door construction is applied to a door-supporting structure such as 'a kitchen cabinet. A structure of this type has a vertical wall portion 101, a bottom horizontal portion 102, and a top horizontal portion 103 which may be integral with a ceiling structure 104. .A door panel 106, suitable as a closure for the opening defined by the door-supporting structure and having a door pull 107, has extending across the lower edge of its interior surface a hollow bar 108 pivotally connected to the door panel as by brackets 1'09. Rigidly secured to the hollow bar and projecting outwardly from its point of securement to .the bar at .110, is a supporting arm 111, the arm being also pivotally connected at 112 to vertical wall portion 101. Thus arranged, the rigid supporting arm is jpivotable at point .112 as thedoor panel is moved outwardly and upwardly into its open position. To insure a vertical position of the door panel during such movement and to limit and control its pivoting around the bar 108, a rigid control bar 113 is provided which is pivotally connected at its ends 114 and 116 to the door panel and vertical wall portion, respectively. The pivoted ends 114 and 116 of the control bar are equally spaced from the pivot axes and 112 of the supporting shaft, thereby -aifording a parallelogram action which insures that the door ,panel is maintained in a substantially vertical plane as it is moved from one position to the-other. Curvature of the supporting arm and control shaft does not, of course, afiect nor modify the parallelogrameffect of the arm-and shaft because of their rigidity.

Contained within the hollow bar 108 is a torsion-spring 117 having one end secured to the bar 108 andstationary therewith and withits other end connected to afinger 118 which .is pivotally attached to the :end of the .hollow bar 108. The torsion spring is sutficiently stressed when the door panel is in its closed position to cause the end of the finger 118 to bear against that portion of the door panel immediately above the bar. This action urges the door panel outwardly and thereby tends to increase the angle between the tension finger and the supporting arm. After the door panel has reached its open position, it is maintained there by the spring acting through the tension finger and the holding action of the supporting arm.

My modified door construction is particularly effective when employed as a closure for a cabinet in which various portions are subjected to heavy use. Thus, the door panel may be raised and left in its open position since it is maintained tightly against the front of the cabinet and therefore does not impede nor obstruct the floor area around the cabinet and does not prevent nor restrict convenient use of the exposed cabinet shelf or recess. While my door construction is particularly suitable for use with a cabinet type structure, as has thus been pointed out, it may be advantageously used in other types of door-supporting structures including those of much larger dimensions.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1.. A door construction for use with a door-supporting structure having a vertical and a horizontal portion, said door construction comprising a door panel supported for movement in an arcuate path relative to said door-supporting structure, a rigid pivot bar rotatably affixed to said door panel and extending across the upper portion thereof whereby said door panel is pivotable on said pivot bar, a resilient torsion member secured and supported within said pivot bar and extending lengthwise thereof, a flexibly jointed lever mechanism having one end rigidly secured to said resilient torsion member and the other end pivotally secured to said vertical portion of the door-supporting structure, and a supporting arm projecting perpendicularly from said pivot bar and pivotally secured to a vertical portion of said door-supporting structure.

2. A door construction as defined in claim 1, and where- 'in said resilient torsion member is normally stressed to provide a force proportional to the weight of the door and which acts effectively through said lever mechanism to counteract the tendency of the door to gravitate downwardly.

3. A door construction as defined in claim 1, and wherein said flexibly jointed lever mechanism comprises a lever rigidly secured to said torsion member and projecting perpendicularly therefrom, and an adjustable connecting link having one end pivotally connected to said lever remote from said torsion member and the other end pivotally secured to said vertical portion of the door-supporting structure.

4. A door construction for use with a door-supporting structure having a vertical and a horizontal portion, said door construction comprising a door panel adapted to be moved in an arcuate path relative to said door-support ing structure, a rigid pivot bar rotatably atfixed to said door panel and extending across the door panel at a position above the center of the door panel whereby said door panel is pivotable with respect to said pivot bar and gravitional force tends to swing the lower portion of the door panel downwardly, a torsion rod secured at one end and supported within said pivot bar and extending lengthwise thereof, said torsion rod having one end connected to and stationary with said pivot bar and the other end extending from one end of the pivot bar, a lever rigidly secured to the extending end of said torsion rod and projecting perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting link having one end pivotally connected to said lever and the other end pivotally secured to said vertical portion of the door-supporting structure, and said torsion rod being normally stressed to exert force through said lever and link to the supporting structure to act against normal gravitational forces on the door.

5. A door construction'which comprises, in combination, a door-supporting structure having a vertical and a horizontal portion, a door panel movable in an arcuate path relative to said door-supporting structure, a rigid pivot bar rotatably aflixed to said door panel and extending across the upper portion thereof whereby said door panel is pivotable on said pivot bar, a torsion rod supported and secured internally of said pivot bar and extending lengthwise thereof, a flexibly jointed control mechanism having one end rigidly secured to said torsion rod and the other end pivotally secured to said vertical portion of the door-supporting structure, and a supporting arm projecting perpendicularly from said pivot bar and being pivotally secured to a vertical portion of said doorsupporting structure.

6. A door construction for use with a door-supporting structure having a vertical and a horizontal portion, said door construction comprising a door panel movable in an arcuate path relative to said door-supporting structure, a rigid pivot bar rotatably aflixed to said door panel and extending across the upper portion thereof whereby said door panel is pivotable on said pivot bar, a torsion rod having one end supported within said pivot bar and extending lengthwise of the pivot bar, a lever rigidly secured to said torsion rod and projecting perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting link having one end pivotally connected to said lever at a position remote from the torsion rod and the other end pivotally secured to said vertical portion of the door-supporting structure, said torsion rod being normally stressed torsionally so as to oppose gravitational force on the door panel, and a supporting arm projecting perpendicularly from said pivot bar and being pivotally secured to a vertical portion of said door-supporting structure so as to define the arcuate path of movement of said door panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,780 Froelich May 9, 1933 2,203,856 Beason June 11, 1940 2,331,497 Osborne Oct. 12, 1943 2,533,423 Bunch Dec. 12, 1950 2,564,988 Muller Aug. 21, 1951 2,594,360 Siperek Apr. 29, 1952 2,774,099 Thomas Dec. 18, 1956 

